They're mates off the field but when the ball is kicked-off to start Sunday's CYMS-Hawks local derby at Wade Park, they'll be fierce rivals for 80 minutes.

The timelines for each side is different so far in 2021 as Willie Heta's Hawks are a perfect two-from-two, while Daniel Mortimer's green and golds lost their season opener against Panthers last week.

But, as is the case with many rivals, form matters little once the contest is underway.

"In the derbies you just give it your all," Pollack said.

"I love the physicality of it. We're good rivals and we get out there and just get into each other... I can't wait."

He's 88 kilograms dripping wet, but Pollack plays like an 18-stone front-rower and doesn't appear to have much self-preservation.

He was lining up anyone and everyone wearing a blue and whites St Pat's jersey in round two, and with his brother Mason by his side, he'll be doing more of the same on Sunday.

"Everything you do, you just do it for him," he said.

"There's not a second out there that I'm not thinking 'he should be out here', or 'I'm just going to have this run for him... I don't care',"

"Especially in defence. I'm just going to launch myself at whoever runs at me."

The approach for CYMS' winger Addison Williams will be slightly different, but that doesn't mean his work out wide is any less valuable.

The rangy Kiwi bagged two tries in his maiden top-grade appearance against the premiers, but wants to put a focus on defence against the Hawks, as does the whole team.

"This weekend is mainly about our defence to be honest, Williams said.

"These Hawks boys run hard and they'll always run hard. We need to get in groups with one up top, one down the bottom."

"My first game was much more fast and physical than what I've played before."

Both sides will run out relatively unchanged line-ups for the derby, although Daniel Mortimer is dealing with the shock loss of Joseph Ualesi who injured his knee during his very first run against Panthers.

Injuries aside, the former NRL player has lots to be pleased about after round two, but admits there are improvements to be made.

"We started out the game really well and that good, but errors and poor discipline started to creep in," Mortimer said.

"We did a big period of defence early in the second half and we just couldn't hold on.

"They [Panthers] can really get a roll on when they've got momentum."

Mortimer understands this weekend's opponent presents an array of challenges, but he doesn't want to get too caught up in what they bring to the table.

"I don't like getting hung up too much on the other team," he said.

"We need to sort out our own backyard and nail what we need to do before worry about the other team. The first CYMS-Hawks derby since 2019 kicks off at 3pm.

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